Suicide Prevention Month 2018 - A Series for Social Workers

by Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW

     September is National Suicide Prevention Month. September 9-15, 2018, is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. With suicide being one of the leading causes of death, social workers need to be prepared to address this issue in their professional and personal lives.

     According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2016, the 2nd leading cause of death between ages 10 and 34, and the 4th leading cause of death between ages 35 and 54. (See NIMH website for additional data.)

     This Suicide Prevention Month, The New Social Worker is pleased to collaborate with the American Association of Suicidology, to bring you a series of articles written by experts in the suicidology field. I am especially grateful to AAS executive director Colleen Creighton and the AAS Board of Directors and staff for their participation in this project. The series also includes articles contributed by our readers.

     Throughout the month of September, we will publish this series of articles, including the following topics (links will be added as each piece is published):

• dispelling myths about suicide
• essential suicide prevention resources
• suicide risk in schools
• engaging suicidal clients in treatment
• suicide and autism
• preventing suicide in veterans
• the role of crisis centers
• working with suicide loss survivors

     Please join us this month in becoming more aware about suicide risks, prevention, and treatment.